Automatic sample staining method

ABSTRACT

Provided is a system and method for staining of one or more samples, including providing one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to be inserted into an auto-staining instrument; and enabling one of one or more staining procedures appropriate for the one or more samples as a function of a choice of self-contained sample processing receptacle, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to process each inserted sample of the one or more samples within the self-contained sample processing receptacle.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to medical and laboratory equipment,and more specifically to one or more automated systems and methods forpreparation, staining, and processing of cells and tissue preparations.

BACKGROUND

Medical and research laboratories study tissues and cells using amicroscope. Researchers and medical professionals typically require avisual contrast between organelles within a cell, and between the celland the extra-cellular matrix to study the tissues and cells. A specialoptical method such as a phase contrast can partially remedy thissituation. A method of choice is to process specimen with a stainingmethod such as applying dyes or colors to tissues to increase contrast.A widely used histological stain is hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Forexample, cell nuclei can be stained black and/or blue in color by thehematoxylin component stains, and cell cytoplasm and most connectivetissue fibers can be stained in various intensities and/or shades ofred, pink, and/or orange by eosin stains. The contrasting method canreveal more than merely revealing the cell and organelles in tissue.Furthermore, with the use of antibodies and nucleic acid probes, it isalso possible to detect some specific antigens and nucleic acidsequences giving information on the physiological condition of cell andtissues that can be use for medical diagnostic and research. Theprocedures to achieve these results are long and tedious and, as aresult, expensive. Existing tissues stainers and immuno-stainers arelarge, expensive, and limited to few applications.

The reason for the expense is due in part to the need for tissue samplesto be removed from a patient and processed by several organizations forhistological examination. The characteristics of a tissue sample oftenprovide important information regarding the health of an individual, butthe characteristics are impossible to determine without assistance frommultiple labs, personnel and diagnosticians due to the complexityrequired for staining the tissue samples.

The process typically begins by removing a tissue sample from a livingorganism, fixing the sample, embedding the fixed tissue in a materialsuch as paraffin, and slicing the embedded fixed tissues into very thinsections. This procedure produces a histological specimen.

The histological specimens prepared according to either theparaffin-embedding method can be analyzed in a variety of ways, such asstaining the sample to identify nucleic acids, or probing the samplewith detectably-labeled antibodies.

Biological analysis using thin sections of embedded fixed tissuefrequently applies to the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases andconditions such as cancer. For instance, a biopsy may be performed todetermine whether a core or fragment of tissue removed from the patientis cancerous. Thus, a histological specimen is prepared from the tissue.The specimen is analyzed microscopically to determine whether the tissueexhibits the hallmarks of neoplasia or cancer.

It is known that tissue microarrays can be configured by combininghundreds of tissue samples in a single paraffin block to enable multipletissue samples to be analyzed simultaneously. (Kononen, J, et al.,Nature Medicine 4:767-768 (1998)). Thin sections from the tissue canlater be analyzed using a variety of techniques, including DNA and RNAin situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. (Bubendorf, L, et al.,Cancer Res. 59:803-806 (1999)). Immunohistochemical markers or labelsare often used in histology for identifying certain characteristics of acell, for example, whether the cell is undergoing mitosis or expressionof a certain antigen.

A known issue with the variety of techniques available to tissue samplesis that many small labs and doctor's offices and hospitals lack thefacilities to perform the analysis due to the complexity of the currenttechniques.

Typically, a doctor's office or laboratory can take biopsies andtransfer them to laboratories for setting in paraffin or other fixative.After, tissues are set in a fixative however, transfer of the tissues toother specialized analysis locations takes place due to the complexityof preparing a slide for proper analysis. Fixed tissues can be storedwithin a vapor phase liquid nitrogen freezer system to maintain tissue.For example, deparafinization requires paraffin removal from the sectionof tissue with xylene. If the tissues are to be stained with an aqueoussolution, then the slides must rehydrated in graded ethanol baths.Typically, the approach is to gently agitate the slides by repeatedimmersion ˜20× in each bath including xylene for 2 minutes, 100% EtOH(×2), 95% EtOH (×1), 80% EtOH (×1), and H2O (×1).

One common stain for formalin fixed paraffin tissues is Hematoxylin andEosin (H&E). Hematoxylin stains negatively charged nucleic acids blue.The eosin stains proteins pink. The hematoxylin or the eosin can also beused by themselves in more dilute form as counterstains forimmunoperoxidase staining. Such staining requires dilution of the stain1:4 with H2O or EtOH, respectively. Slides to be stained must be washedin ethanol, and then washed with Hematoxylin, 2 minutes (×1), Runningwater (×1), Acid alcohol (×1), H2O(×1), Ammonia solution (×1), Runningwater 5 minutes (×1), 80% EtOH (×1), Eosin 15 seconds, 95% EtOH (×2),100% EtOH (×2).

A stain appropriate for auto-staining is the “Wright Giemsa” stain whichrequires heat fixation by warming a slide. Next, the slide can beexposed to alcohol, 30% to 80. The stain remains on the slide for 30 to60 seconds, followed by a running water rinse, drying and covering withoil or slide adhesive.

Another stain used for slides includes a benzidine stain, that is aspecialized stain configured to identify erythroid cells. To stain sucha slide requires a methanol bath, 10-15 seconds followed by benzidinefor 5 minutes, then peroxide, dionized water for 2.5 minutes,hematoxylin stain for 1.5 minutes, and a water rinse.

The above sampling of staining protocols and chemicals provides amplereason why such complex procedures are performed in specializedlaboratories. Given the different protocols for preparing slides forstains, the toxic chemicals used such as benzidine, typical doctor'soffices and local laboratories have limited resources for knownauto-staining systems that are capable of a plurality of auto-stainings.Typically, such local operations will invest in simple stain auto-stainsystems.

Accordingly there is a need for an efficient and reduced complexitysystem and method for tissue staining and analysis that enableslaboratory analysis and staining of tissue samples.

SUMMARY

Embodiments herein provide a system and method for autostaining. Inaccordance with an embodiment, a method for staining of one or moresamples includes but is not limited to providing one or moreself-contained sample processing receptacles, each of the one or moreself-contained sample processing receptacles configured to be insertedinto an auto-staining instrument; and enabling one of one or morestaining procedures appropriate for the one or more samples as afunction of a choice of self-contained sample processing receptacle,each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptaclesconfigured to process each inserted sample of the one or more sampleswithin the self-contained sample processing receptacle. In addition tothe foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims,drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In another aspect, a computer program product comprising a computerreadable medium configured to perform one or more acts for staining asample includes but is not limited to a signal bearing medium bearing atleast one of one or more instructions for enabling one of one or morestaining procedures appropriate for one or more samples as a function ofa choice of one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles,each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptaclesconfigured to process each inserted sample of the one or more sampleswithin the self-contained sample processing receptacle; one or moreinstructions for receiving first identification data from a samplecontained in one of the one or more self-contained sample processingreceptacles; one or more instructions for receiving staining proceduredata from the self-contained sample processing receptacle; and one ormore instructions for comparing the first identification data from thesample and the staining procedure data from the self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle to confirm that the choice of self-containedsample processing receptacle is valid. In addition to the foregoing,other computer program product aspects are described in the claims,drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In another aspect, a system for automatic staining of one or morebiological samples, includes a processor; a memory coupled to theprocessor, the memory configured to include a plurality of one or moresample processing procedures; and a sample processing component operablycoupled to the processor, the sample processing component configured toreceive a first self-contained sample processing receptacle, the firstself-contained sample processing receptacle configured to hold at leastone of the one or more biological samples, and the first self-containedsample processing receptacle configured to include a computer-readableidentification indicating one of the plurality of one or more sampleprocessing procedures to enable the sample processing component tocompare the indicated one of the plurality of one or more sampleprocessing procedures associated with each self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle with a second computer-readable identification ofan inserted sample.

The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity,simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes and/orother subject described herein will become apparent in the text setforth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the subject matter of the present applicationcan be obtained when the following detailed description of the disclosedembodiments is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer architecture thatsupports the claimed subject matter;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an operator using a self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle, module and auto-staining instrument in accordancewith an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating different views of an auto-staininginstrument in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a self-contained sample processingreceptacle and auto-staining instrument with modules in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a self-contained sample processingreceptacle inserted into an auto-staining instrument with modules inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a back side of an auto-staininginstrument with modules in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating data ports and memory mediumsin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of auto-staining instruments100A-100C and data ports in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of auto-staining instruments100A-100C and data port and database in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of an open self-contained sample processingreceptacle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of an open self-contained sample processingreceptacle with a sample being inserted in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a closed self-contained sample processingreceptacle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of a back side of a closed self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an auto-staining module isdepicted, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Those with skill in the computing arts will recognize that the disclosedembodiments have relevance to a wide variety of applications andarchitectures in addition to those described below. In addition, thefunctionality of the subject matter of the present application can beimplemented with the assistance of software, hardware, or a combinationof software and hardware. The software portion can be stored in a memoryor recording medium and executed by a suitable instruction executionsystem such as a microprocessor.

Embodiments herein relate to apparatuses, methods and/or systems forauto-staining of slides for medical purposes. Certain embodimentsdisclosed herein can be performed with the use of a computer andsoftware. By way of example, and with reference to FIG. 1, an exemplarycomputing system for implementing the embodiments includes a generalpurpose computing device in the form of a computer 10. Components of thecomputer 10 can include, but are not limited to, a processing unit 20, asystem memory 30, and a system bus 21 that couples various systemcomponents including the system memory to the processing unit 20. Thesystem bus 21 can be any of several types of bus structures including amemory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and notlimitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture(ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA)bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, andPeripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as Mezzanine bus.

The computer 10 typically includes a variety of computer readable media.Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby the computer 10 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, andremovable and non-removable media. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer readable media can comprise computer storage mediaand communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile andnonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any methodor technology for storage of information such as computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computerstorage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flashmemory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital video disks (DVD) orother optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magneticdisk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other mediumwhich can be used to store the desired information and which can beaccessed by the computer 10. Communication media typically embodiescomputer readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or othertransport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. Theterm “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of itscharacteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode informationin the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communicationmedia includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and otherwireless media. Combinations of the any of the above should also beincluded within the scope of computer readable media.

The system memory 30 can include computer storage media in the form ofvolatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) 31 andrandom access memory (RAM) 32. A basic input/output system 33 (BIOS),including the basic routines that help to transfer information betweenelements within computer 10, such as during start-up, is typicallystored in ROM 31. RAM 32 typically contains data and/or program modulesthat are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on byprocessing unit 20. By way of example, and not limitation, FIG. 1illustrates operating system 34, application programs 35, other programmodules 36 and program data 37. FIG. 1 is shown with program modules 36including an image processing module in accordance with an embodiment asdescribed herein.

The computer 10 can also include other removable/non-removable,volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,FIG. 1 illustrates a hard disk drive 41 that reads from or writes tonon-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive 51 thatreads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk 52, andan optical disk drive 55 that reads from or writes to a removable,nonvolatile optical disk 56 such as a CD ROM, DVD ROM, and/or otheroptical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatilecomputer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operatingenvironment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes,flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solidstate RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive 41 istypically connected to the system bus 21 through a non-removable memoryinterface such as interface 40, and magnetic disk drive 51 and opticaldisk drive 55 are typically connected to the system bus 21 by aremovable memory interface, such as interface 50. An interface forpurposes of this disclosure can mean a location on a device forinserting a drive such as hard disk drive 41 in a secured fashion, or ain a more unsecured fashion, such as interface 50. In either case, aninterface includes a location for electronically attaching additionalparts to the computer 10.

The drives and their associated computer storage media, discussed aboveand illustrated in FIG. 1, provide storage of computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules and other data for thecomputer 10. In FIG. 1, for example, hard disk drive 41 is illustratedas storing operating system 44, application programs 45, other programmodules, including specimen processing module 46 and program data 47.Program modules 46 is shown including an specimen processing module,which can be configured as either located in modules 36 or 46, or bothlocations, as one with skill in the art will appreciate. Morespecifically, specimen processing modules 36 and 46 could be innon-volatile memory in some embodiments wherein one or more specimenprocessing modules run automatically in an environment. In otherembodiments, specimen processing modules could be part of an embeddedsystem. Note that these components can either be the same as ordifferent from operating system 34, application programs 35, otherprogram modules, including specimen processing module 36, and programdata 37. Operating system 44, application programs 45, other programmodules, including specimen processing module 46, and program data 47are given different numbers hereto illustrate that, at a minimum, theyare different copies. In one embodiment, a user can enter commands andinformation into the computer 10 through input devices such as a tablet,or electronic digitizer, 64, a microphone 63, a keyboard 62 and pointingdevice 61, commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball or touch pad.Other input devices (not shown) can include a satellite dish, scanner,or the like. These and other input devices can be connected to theprocessing unit 20 through a user input interface 60 that is coupled tothe system bus, but can be connected by other interface and busstructures, such as a parallel port or a universal serial bus (USB). Amonitor 91 or other type of display device can be connected to thesystem bus 21 via an interface, such as a video interface 90. Themonitor 91 can also be integrated with a touch-screen panel or the like.Note that the monitor and/or touch screen panel can be physicallycoupled to a housing in which the computing device 10 is incorporated,such as in a tablet-type personal computer. In addition, computers suchas the computing device 10 can also include other peripheral outputdevices such as speakers 97 and printer 96, which can be connectedthrough an output peripheral interface 95 or the like.

The computer 10 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, which could be other cellphones with a processor or other computers, such as a remote computer80. The remote computer 80 can be a personal computer, a server, arouter, a network PC, PDA, cell phone, a peer device or other commonnetwork node, and typically includes many or all of the elementsdescribed above relative to the computer 10, although only a memorystorage device 81 has been illustrated in FIG. 1. The logicalconnections depicted in FIG. 1 include a local area network (LAN) 71 anda wide area network (WAN) 73, but can also include other networks. Suchnetworking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-widecomputer networks, intranets and the Internet. For example, in thesubject matter of the present application, the computer system 10 cancomprise the source machine from which data is being migrated, and theremote computer 80 can comprise the destination machine. Note howeverthat source and destination machines need not be connected by a networkor any other means, but instead, data can be migrated via any mediacapable of being written by the source platform and read by thedestination platform or platforms.

When used in a LAN or WLAN networking environment, the computer 10 isconnected to the LAN through a network interface or adapter 70. Whenused in a WAN networking environment, the computer 10 typically includesa modem 72 or other means for establishing communications over the WAN73, such as the Internet. The modem 72, which can be internal orexternal, can be connected to the system bus 21 via the user inputinterface 60 or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment,program modules depicted relative to the computer 10, or portionsthereof, can be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way ofexample, and not limitation, FIG. 1 illustrates remote applicationprograms 85 as residing on memory device 81. It will be appreciated thatthe network connections shown are exemplary and other means ofestablishing a communications link between the computers can be used.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a system for enabling efficient and localauto-staining functionality is depicted in accordance with variousembodiments. “Auto-staining” as used herein refers to methods and/orsystems that enable automated staining of tissues on slides. Moreparticularly, “auto-staining” herein includes staining to enablebiological analysis of thin sections of embedded fixed tissue or othermatter, for example for diagnosis and prognosis of diseases andconditions such as cancer. Thus, a histological specimen can be analyzedmicroscopically after “auto-staining”.

Tissue microarrays can be configured by combining hundreds of tissuesamples in a single paraffin block to enable multiple tissue samples tobe analyzed simultaneously. Embodiments herein also enable“auto-staining” for a nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) microarray. A nucleic acidmicroarray is a support, which can be a slide. Laboratories detectsequences by hybridization using nucleic acid microarrays. Typically, aslide will contain dots of synthesized or tissue extracted nucleic acid.

Embodiments herein further enable “auto-staining” of protein/peptidemicroarrays in which peptides are extracted from tissues and are thenare fixed on a slide for subsequent detection by antibodies.

More specifically, the auto-stainer system in accordance withembodiments herein includes methods and systems for labeling andstaining tissue specimens that are attached to slides. Additionally, thelabeling and staining methods and systems apply to other types oflabeling and samples. For example, other types of sample staininginclude but are not limited to, fluorescent applications such as FISH(fluorescent in situ hybridization), nucleic acid microarrayhybridization, and protein microarray labeling.

In a nucleic acid microarray hybridization protocol, a nucleic acid(DNA, RNA or chemically analogous molecules) are extracted frombiological material or synthesized. The nucleic acid extract is fixedonto a support such as a glass slide and the resulting support isprocessed for hybridization using various labeled nucleic acid or analogprobes.

The nucleic acid probes can then be detected using variousfluorochromes. (Using an enzymatic colorimetric method instead or even aradioactive tracers would be a conceptually trivial implementation.)

In a protein microarray protocol, dots of proteins extracted fromtissues are fixed into a slide and processed by methods very similar toimmunohistochemistry (“IHC”) for the detection of protein antigen.

As shown, the system can include one or more auto-staining instruments100A and/or 100B. Each of auto-staining instruments 100A and/or 100B caninclude one or more auto-staining modules 105A and/or 105B, and eachauto-staining module 105A/105B is configured to receive one ofself-contained sample processing receptacles 110A-110F. Each of the oneor more self-contained sample processing receptacles 110A-110F isconfigured to receive a tissue sample in need of staining, processing orthe like, such as a tissue on one of slides 120A-120C.

Each of self-contained sample processing receptacles 110A-110F areconfigured as sealable chambers to enable processing therein independentfrom other self-contained sample processing receptacles in a sameauto-staining instrument 100A/100B. For example, a single auto-staininginstrument 100A can apply different staining protocols to each differentself-contained sample processing receptacle 110A-110F as are present inthe auto-staining instrument 110A, limited only by the availability ofreagents either on board or disposed within each self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle 110A/110B. Each self-contained sample processingreceptacle 110A/110B can apply reagents present in-situ and/or reagentssupplied by the auto-staining instrument as required by a given stainingprotocol. According to an embodiment, the staining protocol can bedetermined by operator 150 when determining which self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle 110A/110B is appropriate for a staining protocol.

FIG. 2 further illustrates an operator 150. As described, according toan embodiment, operator 150 can determine which staining protocol toapply to any given tissue by choosing an appropriate self-containedsample processing receptacle 110A-110F. For example, one or moreself-contained sample processing receptacles can be configured asincluding one or more reagents, such as beads or the like, within theself-contained sample processing receptacles 110A/110B. The beads can bepredetermined to be appropriate for one or more specific type ofstaining protocol. Alternatively or in addition to in-situ reagentbeads, reagents can be supplied via a fluidic system incorporated intoauto-staining instrument 100A in one or more of containers 130A-130F.Additionally, the self-contained sample processing receptacles 110A/110Bcan be configured as requiring additional reagent via auto-staininginstrument 100A/100B. Also, in one embodiment, self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle 110A/110B could include a partial-reagent beadrequiring additional chemicals via receptacles 130A-130F, or the like.In each case, however, the processing takes place within a sealedchamber of the self-contained sample processing receptacle 110A/110B.

As shown in FIG. 2, operator 150 can place slide 120A intoself-contained sample processing receptacle 110B and can placeself-contained sample processing receptacle 110B into auto-stainingmodule 105B of auto-staining instrument 100A. In some embodiments,self-contained sample processing receptacle 110B can be placed intoauto-staining module 105B while auto-staining is being performed inauto-staining module 105A on a different self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle 110A within same auto-staining instrument 110A.Moreover, a first auto-staining can be performed in auto-staining module105A while a different second auto-staining can be performed in anydifferent auto-staining module, such as auto-staining module 105B. Forexample, a portion of a first auto-staining procedure can be performedusing auto-staining module 110A while a portion of a secondauto-staining procedure is performed using auto-staining module 110B.For instance, the portion of the first auto-staining procedure and theportion of the second auto-staining procedure can be performed in aconcurrent fashion. In some embodiments, the first auto-stainingprocedure and the second auto-staining procedure can be the same ordifferent. More particularly, as one of skill in the art willappreciate, staining of tissue samples can be a long process requiringheating, cooling, applying stain, rinsing of reagent and the like.Depending on the protocol required for a particular staining event, thelength of time required (according to some measure of some metric)within each self-contained sample processing receptacle can bedifferent. Thus, according to an embodiment, rather than requiring alargest common denominator of time to determine how many stainingprotocols can be performed, each self-contained sample processingreceptacle is configured to be independent from other self-containedsample processing receptacles even within the same auto-staininginstrument 100A/100B.

In various embodiments, one or more reservoirs 130A-130F can be coupledto one or more auto-staining instruments 100A and/or 100B. For example,reservoirs 130A-130F can be used as vessels or reservoirs for reagents,buffers, liquids, semi-liquids, gases, wastes and/or other fluids. Invarious embodiments, a reagent can include antibodies, molecular probes,alcohols, dyes, and/or enzymes, among others.

In one example, auto-staining instruments 100A and 100B can sharecontents of each of reservoirs 130A-130F via a sharing system. In oneinstance, auto-staining instrument 100A and auto-staining instrument100B can be separately coupled to one or more of reservoirs 130A-130F.In another instance, auto-staining instrument 100B can be coupled to oneor more of reservoirs 130A-130F through auto-staining instrument 100A.In various embodiments, auto-staining instruments 100A/100B can be“daisy chained” together to access one or more of reservoirs 130A-130F.For example, a first auto-staining instrument can be coupled to one ormore of reservoirs 130A-130F, a second auto-staining instrument can becoupled to the first auto-staining instrument, and a third auto-staininginstrument can be coupled to the second auto-staining instrument. Thesecond auto-staining instrument can access one or more of reservoirs130A-130F through the first auto-staining instrument, and the thirdauto-staining instrument can access one or more of reservoirs 130A-130Fthrough the second auto-staining instrument.

Turning now to FIG. 3, Auto-staining instruments 100A and 100B aredepicted, according to various embodiments. As shown, auto-staininginstrument 100A can include auto-staining modules 105A-105J, andauto-staining instrument 100B can include auto-staining modules105K-105T.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, auto-staining instrument 100A isdepicted, according to various embodiments. As shown in FIG. 4, operator150 can place self-contained sample processing receptacle 110A intoauto-staining module 105B. As illustrated, auto-staining module 105B hasits door in an open position. FIG. 5 shows self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle 110A in auto-staining module 105B.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a portion of an auto-staining instrument isdepicted according to various embodiments. As illustrated, in someembodiments, auto-staining instrument 100A can include one or morefluidic ports or connectors 160A-160C that can be used in connectingauto-staining instrument 100A to various reservoirs, such as reservoirs130A-130F. For example, fluidic connector 160A can be coupled to aselection valve that can select among reservoirs 130A-130D. Reservoirs130A-130D can also be used for reagents, buffers, liquids, and/or otherfluids. Fluidic connector 160B can be coupled to reservoir 130E that canbe used for water, and fluidic connector 160C can be coupled toreservoir 130F that can be used for waste.

In one or more embodiments, reservoirs could be used to store somefluids. For example, a fluidic connector can be coupled to a watersupply. For instance, a laboratory can have a distilled or de-ionizedwater supply that can be coupled to fluidic connector 160B. In anotherinstance, the laboratory can have a waste system that can be coupled tofluidic connector 160C.

As illustrated, auto-staining instrument 100A can include one or moredata ports 170A-170C. In various embodiments, one or more data ports cantransmit and/or receive data with various systems, subsystems, networks,and/or devices, and data can be transferred through, to, and fromvarious mediums. For example, auto-staining instrument 100A can use dataport 170A in communicating data via Ethernet, universal serial bus(USB), RS-232 signaling, RS-485 signaling, IEEE 1394 (e.g., FireWire),optical fiber, DSL, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), ISDN,general purpose IO (GPIO), IEEE 1284, IEEE 488 (e.g., GPIB), MIDIsignaling, 1 ²C (Inter-Integrated Circuit), SCSI, SPI (serial peripheralinterface), TWI (two-wire interface), MICROWIRE, and/or 1-Wire, amongothers.

In some embodiments, an auto-staining instrument can communicate data ina wireless fashion. For example, auto-staining instrument 100A can usedata port 170A to communicate data in a wireless fashion. In someembodiments, wireless communication can be accomplished using variouswireless technologies. For example, these wireless technologies caninclude using various frequencies (e.g., 330 Mhz, 900 MHz, 1.7 GHz, 2.4GHz, 3.6 GHz, 5 GHz, etc.), various encoding techniques (e.g., spreadspectrum, code division multiple access, time division multiple access,frequency division multiple access, etc.), IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16,IEEE 802.15, satellite communications, GPRS (general packet radioservice), infrared serial communications, optical communications, amongothers.

In some embodiments, communicating data can include using one or moresecurity systems and/or methods. For example, data can be communicatedusing a virtual private network (VPN), IPSec, and/or cryptography, amongothers. In various embodiments, communicating data can include using oneor more authentication systems and/or methods. For example, data can becommunicated using one or more digital certificates (e.g., X.509certificates), CRCs (cyclic redundancy checks), MD5 hashes, SHA-160hashes, among others. In some embodiments, communicating data using oneor more authentication systems and/or methods can include usingadditional data. For example, first data can be for transport from onepoint to one or more other points. Second data (e.g., a shared secret)can be added to and/or combined with the first data to produce a firsthash value. The first data and the first hash value can be received byone of the one or more other points. For instance, the one of the one ormore other points can use the first data and the second data to producea second hash value. If the first hash value and the second hash valuematch, the first data can be considered authenticated. Authenticationfailures can discard various data and/or produce one or more alerts. Invarious embodiments, the second data can include one or more memorymediums of the one or more other points.

Referring now to FIG. 7, various auto-staining instruments are depicted,according to one or more embodiments. As shown, auto-staininginstruments 100A-100C can include various data ports and/or fluidicports. Auto-staining instrument 100A can include fluidic ports orconnectors 160A-160C and/or data ports 170A-170C, auto-staininginstrument 100B can also include fluidic ports or connectors 160D-160Fand/or data ports 170D-170F, and an auto-staining instrument 100C caninclude fluidic ports or connectors 160G-160I and/or data ports170G-170I.

Additionally, according to an embodiment, auto-staining instruments100A-100C can, respectively, include: a processor 175A coupled to amemory medium 177A; a processor 175B coupled to a memory medium 177B;and a processor 175C coupled to a memory medium 177C. As shown,processor 175A can be coupled to data ports 170A-170C, processor 175Bcan be coupled to data ports 170D-170F, and processor 175C can becoupled to data ports 170G-170I.

In some embodiments, a processor (e.g., one of processors 175A-175C) canbe configured to execute instruction from a memory medium (e.g., e.g.,one of memory mediums 177A-177B) and/or from an input/output (I/O)system (e.g., through one or more data ports 170A-170C, among others).For example, the processor can be or include a microprocessor and/or amicrocontroller configured to implement a given instruction setarchitecture (ISA). For instance, the given ISA can include portions ofor all of one or more of a PowerPC ISA, an Intel x86 ISA, a MIPS ISA, anARM ISA, a SPARC ISA, a Propeller ISA, an AVR 8-bit RISC ISA, an AVR32ISA, a JAVA ISA, and/or a Microchip PIC ISA, among others. In someembodiments, the processor can be or include one or more digital signalprocessors. In general, the terms “computer”, “computing device”, and“computer system” can be broadly defined to include any device having aprocessor that executes instructions from a memory medium.

In various embodiments, the memory medium can be configured to storedata used in operating various systems and/or subsystems describedherein. In some embodiments, the memory medium can be configured tostore program instructions executable by a processor to implementvarious methods and/or systems described herein. In some embodiments,the memory medium can include various of memory technologies such asdynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM),non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) (e.g., “flash” random accessmemory), EEPROM, EPROM, read-only memory (ROM), CDROM, CD-RW, DVDROM,DVD-RW, floppy disk, flash card, thumb drive, hard disk, RAID, networkarea storage (NAS), and/or storage area network (SAN), among others. Allor one or more portions of the memory medium can be removable, andpossibly, configured to be carried by a user. In some embodiments, thememory medium can include a combination and/or various combinations ofstorage technologies, as well as other storage technologies notspecifically mentioned. In various embodiments, the memory medium canstore various information and/or data structures that includeinformation used in the system(s) and/or method(s) described herein.

For example, one or more data structures stored in the memory medium caninclude information associated with two or more auto-stainingprocedures. For instance, various identifications (e.g., identificationsfrom various self-contained sample processing receptacles) can beassociated with one or more auto-staining procedures stored in a datastructure. Moreover, in some embodiments, various identificationinformation can be used to index into the data structure stored in thememory medium.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a block diagram is illustrated, according tovarious embodiments. As shown, auto-staining instrument 100A can becoupled to auto-staining instrument 100B through a data coupling 180A,and auto-staining instrument 100B can be coupled to auto-staininginstrument through a data coupling 180B. For example, data ports 170Aand 170D can be used to couple auto-staining instruments 100A and 100B,and data ports 170E and 170G can be used to couple auto-staininginstruments 100B and 100C. In some embodiments, data port 170D can beused to couple auto-staining instruments 100A and 100B and can be usedto couple auto-staining instruments 100B and 100C. Alternatively,separate data ports could be configured to couple two or more devices.In various embodiments, auto-staining instrument 100A can be coupled toa fluidic selection device 210 through a data coupling 180C. In variousembodiments, fluidic selection device 210 can receive selectioninformation via data coupling 180C, and the selection information can beassociated with a reservoir, reagent, and/or a fluid selection.

In some embodiments, reservoirs 130A-130F and an air supply 190 can becoupled to fluidic selection device 210, and fluidic selection device210 can be coupled to instrument auto-staining devices 100A-100C througha fluidic coupling 220A. For example, fluidic coupling 220A can includeone or more tubings, pipes, conduits, etc. As shown, fluidic coupling220A can be used to distribute one or more fluids from fluidic selectiondevice 210. In one instance, fluidic coupling 220B can be coupled to oneor more of fluidic connector or port 160A of auto-staining instrument100A, fluidic connector or port 160D of auto-staining instrument 100B,and/or fluidic connector or port 160G of auto-staining instrument 100C.In another instance, a fluidic coupling 220C can be coupled to a watersupply 200 and one or more of fluidic connector or port 160B ofauto-staining instrument 100A, fluidic connector or port 160E ofauto-staining instrument 100B, and/or fluidic connector or port 160H ofauto-staining instrument 100C. In this fashion, auto-staininginstruments 100A-100C can be “daisy chained” together, in someembodiments.

In various embodiments, auto-staining instrument 100A can be coupled toa waste selection device 215 via a fluidic coupling 220D, and wasteselection device 215 can be coupled to reservoirs 130G and 130H. In someembodiments, different waste reservoirs can be used to handle differenttypes of waste. For example, reservoir 130G can handle general wastefrom various auto-staining procedures, and reservoir 130H can handlewaste from auto-staining procedures that can involve radioactivematerials. Thus, reservoir 130H can be configured to receive and storeradioactive waste. For instance, reservoir 130H can be lined with leadand/or other material(s). In another example, different reagents may notbe able to be safely combined. Accordingly, these non-safely-combinablereagents can be stored in separate waste reservoirs when they are donebeing used. In various embodiments, other reservoirs can be used forother types of waste and can be configured, accordingly, to safelyand/or appropriately handle such waste. In some embodiments,auto-staining instrument 100A can be coupled to waste selection device215 through a data coupling 180D, where an auto-staining procedure canuse data coupling 180D to switch waste selection device 215 betweenreservoirs 130G or 130H.

In some embodiments, auto-staining instruments 100B and 100C can becoupled to reservoir 130I via a fluidic coupling 220E. For example,reservoir 130I can be used to handle and/or store waste from variousauto-staining procedures.

Turning now to FIG. 9, a block diagram is illustrated in accordance withan embodiment. As shown, one or more of auto-staining instruments100A-100C, waste selection device 215, fluidic selection device 210, adatabase 240, a portable computing device (PCD) 230A (e.g., a laptop, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, etc.), a desk topcomputing device (DTCD) 230B, a server computing device (SCD) 230C,and/or a database 240 can be coupled to network 220. In someembodiments, each of auto-staining instruments 100A-100C, wasteselection device 215, fluidic selection device 210, database 240, PCD230A, DTCD 230B, SCD 230C and/or database 240 can communicate withnetwork 220 over a wired or wireless connection. Network 220 can includea wireless network, a wired network, or a combination of wireless andwired networks. In various embodiments, network 220 can include and/orbe coupled to various networks, such as a public switch telephonenetwork (PSTN), a wireless telephone network (e.g., paging, cellular,satellite, etc.), an Internet, one or more local area networks (LANs),and/or wide area networks (WANs), among others.

In an alternative embodiment, one or more of auto-staining instruments100A-100C, waste selection device 215, fluidic selection device 210,database 240, PCD 230A, DTCD 230B, SCD 230C, database 240, and/ornetwork 220 can be used to implement at least a portion of any systemand/or method described herein. In one example, network 220 can includeone or more of data couplings 180A-180D. In another example, one or moreof data couplings 180A-180D can include at least a portion of network220.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a self-contained sample processing receptaclefor processing a slide is depicted in accordance with an embodiment. Asshown, self-contained sample processing receptacle 110A can include achamber 300 and fluidic valves 310A-310C coupled to chamber 300. Invarious embodiments, fluids (e.g., reagents, air, buffers, water, etc.)can enter through one or more of fluidic valves 310A-310C and flow intochamber 300. In other embodiments, valve control elements 320A-320C canbe coupled to respective valves 310A-310C, and valve control elements320A-320C can control flow of various fluids into chamber 300.

Valve control elements 320A-320C can be controlled pneumatically,hydraulically, mechanically, and/or magnetically, among others, and can,respectively, actuate valves 310A-310C. For example, valve controller320A can include a magnetic material. For instance, when a magneticfield is introduced, a force can be applied to the magnetic materialcausing valve controller 320A to open or close valve 310A. In variousembodiments, the magnetic material can include one or more magnets. Insome embodiments, valve control elements 320A-320C can include one ormore elastomer elements (e.g., elastomer membranes) that can place arespective valve in a default or resting position (e.g., open, closed,partially open, partially closed, etc.). In some embodiments, anauto-staining module (e.g., one of 105A-105T) can include one or moremagnetic field generators (e.g., coils operable to conduct electriccurrent, thereby generating at least one magnetic, etc.), which whenactuated, can introduce a magnetic field to a respective valve controlelement of valve control elements 320A-320C adjusting a respectivevalve. For example, a respective valve can be opened or closed.

According to some embodiments, self-contained sample processingreceptacle 110A can include one or more channels 330A-330C that coupleand/or connect a respective valve of valves 310A-310C to chamber 300. Asone of skill in the art will appreciate the location and number of thechannels and valves can vary in accordance with system requirements andremain within the scope of the present disclosure. As shown, one or moreof channels 330A-330C can be configured to include respective beads340A-340C. In some embodiments, one or more of beads 340A-340C caninclude inert and/or reagent material.

Additionally, self-contained sample processing receptacle 110A caninclude an elastomer element 350 as a flexible membrane or some otherappropriate flexible membrane. For example, elastomer element 350 caninclude an elastomer diaphragm. In some embodiments, elastomer element350 can be operable to agitate and/or mix contents of chamber 300. Forexample, agitating and/or mixing the contents using elastomer element350 can be implemented and/or controlled pneumatically, hydraulically,mechanically, and/or magnetically, among others. For example,self-contained sample processing receptacle 110A can include anactuating element 360 coupled to elastomer element 350. For example,actuating element 360 can include a magnetic material. For example, whena magnetic field is introduced and/or applied, a force can be applied tothe magnetic material causing elastomer element 350 to move and/orchange shape. In one or more embodiments, the magnetic material caninclude one or more magnets. An auto-staining module (e.g., one of105A-105T) can include a magnetic field generator (e.g., a coil operableto conduct electric current, thereby generating at least one magnetic,etc.), which when actuated, can introduce a magnetic field to actuatingelement 360 and resultant forces applied to actuating element 360 cancause elastomer element 350 to move and/or change shape. For example, amagnetic field introduced and/or applied to actuating element 360 canvary at one or more frequencies. This can cause at least a portion ofthe contents of chamber 300 to be agitated and/or mixed.

In one or more embodiments, self-contained sample processing receptacle110A can be configured to prevent cross contamination of one specimenwith another specimen. For example, self-contained sample processingreceptacle 110A can include an O-ring that seals contents ofself-contained sample processing receptacle 110A. In variousembodiments, self-contained sample processing receptacle 110A can behermetically sealed.

In various embodiments, self-contained sample processing receptacle 110Acan include a computer-readable identification (ID) 365. ID 365 can bedisposed on and/or within self-contained sample processing receptacle110A. The position of the ID 365 is agnostic to the location as shown.More particularly, as one of skill in the art will appreciate, ID 365can be in several locations on self-contained sample processingreceptacle 110A and stay within scope of the disclosure herein. In someembodiments, ID 365 can include one or more of a computer-readablecolor, hologram, bar code (e.g., one or multiple dimensions), one ormore symbols, and/or a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. Forexample, identification information can be determined based oninformation received from ID 365. In various embodiments, the determinedidentification information can be used to determine one or more specimenauto-staining procedures from two or more possible specimenauto-staining procedures.

In some embodiments, ID 365 can include an integrated circuit device,e.g., a processor coupled to a memory medium, radio frequency logic, oneor more rectifiers, one or more sensors, one or more antennas, digitalsignal processing (DSP) logic, one or more modulators, etc. In someembodiments, ID 365 can be passive, active, or a combination of passiveand active (e.g., semi-active or semi-passive). In one example, ID 365can be passive and not have an on-board power source. ID 365 can beconfigured to use power emitted from a reader to communicateidentification information with the reader. ID 365 can be in contactwith the reader, or not be in such contact. In a second example, ID 365can be active which includes an on-board power source (e.g., battery,solar cell, fuel cell, etc.). In a third example, ID 365 can besemi-active or semi-passive which can include an on-board power sourcefor specific tasks. In various embodiments, ID 365 can be read only(RO), write once read many (WORM), or read write (RW). In someembodiments, ID 365 can include an ISO 7816 interface.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, further details of a self-containedsample processing receptacle are depicted, according to variousembodiments. As shown in FIG. 11, self-contained sample processingreceptacle 110A can be configured and/or operable to receive slide 120A,and slide 120A can include a biological sample 370. Sample 370 is showndisposed on slide 120A. For example, sample 370 can include one or moreof a biological sample from any species wherein the sample can includeone or more of tissue, cells, a cell suspension, a block of tissues, anembedded cell suspension, a cell pellet, and/or a smear of body fluid,among others.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a bottom side of a self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle is depicted, according to various embodiments. Asshown, self-contained sample processing receptacle 110A can includefluidic connectors 315A-315D that can be coupled to respective fluidicvalves 310A-310C and 320D shown in FIG. 10. In various embodiments,fluids can enter self-contained sample processing receptacle 110Athrough one or more of fluidic connectors 315A-315C and can exitself-contained sample processing receptacle 110A through fluidicconnector 315D. In some embodiments, one or more of fluidic connectors315A-315D can interface and/or couple to an auto-staining module (e.g.,auto-staining module 105B).

Turning now to FIG. 14, a cross-sectional view of an auto-stainingmodule is depicted, according to various embodiments. As shown,auto-staining module 105B can include a water line 400 that can becoupled to fluidic connector or port 160B, a reagent line 410 that canbe coupled to fluidic connector or port 160A, and a waste manifold 420that can be coupled to fluidic connector or port 160C. In someembodiments, water line 400, reagent line 410, and waste manifold 420can also be coupled to one or more other auto-staining modules such asone or more of auto-staining module 105A and 105C-105J. In variousembodiments, auto-staining module 105B can include a check-valve 430Acoupled to reagent line 410 and/or can include a check-valve 430Bcoupled to waste manifold 420. In some embodiments, auto-staining module105B can include one or more magnetic field generators such as magneticfield generators 440A-440C. For example, magnetic field generators440A-440C can include various coils that can produce various magneticfields. Auto-staining module 105B can include a bay or module door 450.In some embodiments, module door 450 can be latched or unlatched by auser (e.g., operator 150). For example, the user can latch module door450 after a self-contained sample processing receptacle (e.g.,self-contained sample processing receptacle 110A) is placed inauto-staining module 105B and can unlatch module door 450 after one ormore auto-staining procedures have completed. In various embodiments,module door 450 can be automatically latched or unlatched by one or moresystems and/or methods described herein. As shown, auto-staining module105B can include a pump 455. For example, pump 455 can be or include aperistaltic pump. In various embodiments, pump 455 can pump contents ofchamber 300 to and/or through waste manifold 420.

As illustrated, auto-staining module 105B can include a thermal unit460. In various embodiments, thermal unit 460 can be used to heat and/orcool contents of self-contained sample processing receptacle 110A. Forexample, thermal unit 460 can include one or more electrically resistiveelements that can allow thermal unit 460 to raise a temperature. Inanother example, thermal unit 460 can include a thermo electric deviceto raise and/or lower a temperature. For instance, the thermo electricdevice can include one or more semi-conductive and/or bimetallicelements which can use and/or implement a Peltier effect.

As shown, module 105B can include a chamber 480. In some embodiments,auto-staining module 105B can include various fins 470A-470C coupled tothermal unit 460. As shown, fins 470A-470C can be disposed in chamber480. In various embodiments, chamber 480 can enclose and/or include afluid. For example, air, water, or oil can be enclosed in chamber 480,and the air, water, or oil can surround fins 470A-470C. In variousembodiments, fins 470A-470C surrounded by fluid can modulate and/ormoderate temperature changes of thermal unit 460. For example, it can bedesired to provide gradual temperature changes to the contents ofself-contained sample processing receptacle 105A, where “gradual” can bea measure according to some metric.

Referring now to FIG. 15, a flow diagram is depicts a method inaccordance with one or more embodiments. More specifically, block 1510depicts providing one or more self-contained sample processingreceptacles, each of the one or more self-contained sample processingreceptacles configured to be inserted into an auto-staining instrument.For example, self-contained sample processing receptacle 105A can beinserted into an auto-staining instrument.

Within block 1510 is optional block 15102 which depicts providing one ormore modules within the auto-staining instrument, each module operableto receive one of the one or more self-contained sample processingreceptacles and independently couple each self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle to the auto-staining instrument. For example,auto-staining instrument 100A-100C including modules such as 105B toreceive self-contained sample processing receptacle 110A.

Also within block 1510 is optional block 15104 which depicts providingwithin each of the one or more self-contained sample processingreceptacles a chamber adapted to receive and enclose at least one of theone or more samples, the chamber including a flexible membrane operableto agitate contents in the chamber. For example self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle 110A including chamber 300 as shown in FIG. 10.

Further within optional block 15104 is shown optional block 151042 whichdepicts that providing one or more fluidic valves coupled to thechamber, the one or more fluidic valves enabling a pump to control flowof one or more fluids through the chamber (e.g., fluidic valves310A-310C shown in FIG. 10).

Within optional block 151042 is further optional block 151044 whichdepicts providing one or more channels disposed between at least onefluidic valve of the one or more fluidic valves and the chamber, atleast one of the one or more channels configured to include a reagentbead. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, self-contained sample processingreceptacle 110A can include channels 330A-330C that couple and/orconnect valves 310A-310C to chamber 300, and channels 330A-330C caninclude respective beads 340A-340C. In some embodiments, one or more ofbeads 340A-340C can include inert and/or reagent material. The one ormore channels can be adapted to enable dissolving the reagent bead viaone or more of agitating and/or pumping.

Further depicted within optional block 151042 is optional block 151046which provides for enabling performance of the one or more stainingprocedures via pumping a fluid through the chamber and through at leastone of the one or more fluidic valves, the at least one of the one ormore fluidic valves coupled to a magnetic element responsive to amagnetic field generator of the auto-staining instrument, the magneticelement actuating the at least one of the one or more fluidic valves.The enabling performance can include enabling evacuation of at least aportion of contents of the chamber. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10and 13, fluids can enter self-contained sample processing receptacle110A through one or more of fluidic connectors 315A-315C and can exitself-contained sample processing receptacle 110A through a fluidicconnector.

Further depicted within optional block 151042 is optional block 151046which provides for providing the one or more fluidic valves asperistaltic pumps and/or operable with one or more pumps associated withthe auto-staining instrument. For example, fluidic connectors 315A-315Ccan operate as peristaltic pumps alone or with other pumps in or outsidethe auto-staining instrument.

Further disposed within block 1510 is block 15106 which depictsproviding within each of the one or more self-contained sampleprocessing receptacles a magnetic element coupled to the elastomerelement, the magnetic element responsive to a magnetic field generatordisposed within one or more of the auto-staining instrument and/or amodule disposed within the auto-staining instrument, the magneticelement adapted to cause agitation of the chamber using the elastomerelement when the magnetic field generator is activated, the magneticfield generator adapted to produce one or more magnetic fields thatapply force to the magnetic element, whereby the elastomer elementresponds.

Also disposed within block 1510 is optional block 15108 which providesfor hermetically sealing at least one of the one or more self-containedsample processing receptacles. For example, self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle 110A can be configured to prevent crosscontamination of one specimen with another specimen via an O-ring thatseals contents of self-contained sample processing receptacle 110Aand/or by being hermetically sealed.

Block 1520 provides for enabling one of one or more staining proceduresappropriate for the one or more samples as a function of a choice ofself-contained sample processing receptacle, each of the one or moreself-contained sample processing receptacles configured to process eachinserted sample of the one or more samples within the self-containedsample processing receptacle. For example, referring to FIG. 2, user 150chooses a self-contained sample processing receptacle 110A wherein eachself-contained sample processing receptacle 110A is capable ofself-containing one of a plurality of different reagents for differentstaining procedures.

Disposed within block 1520 is optional block 15202 and block 15204.Block 15202 provides for enabling a first staining procedure of the oneor more staining procedures appropriate for a first of the one or moresamples. For example, self-contained sample processing receptacle 110Acan self-contain a first staining procedure. Block 15204 provides forenabling a second staining procedure of the one or more stainingprocedures appropriate for a second of the one or more samples. Forexample, self-contained sample processing receptacle 110B canself-contain a second staining procedure within the same auto-staininginstrument 100A or 100B. Block 15204 is followed by optional block 15206which provides for enabling the first staining procedure and at least aportion of the second staining procedure of the one or more stainingprocedures concurrently. For example, auto-staining unit 100A or 100Bcan perform auto-staining of different procedures independently.

Block 1520 further includes optional block 15206, which provides forenabling the one or more staining procedures to include heating and/orcooling the one or more samples inserted in the one or moreself-contained sample processing receptacles. For example, as shown inFIG. 14, auto-staining module 105B can include a thermal unit 460 thatcan be used to heat and/or cool contents of self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle 110A. For example, thermal unit 460 can includeone or more electrically resistive elements that can allow thermal unit460 to raise a temperature or a thermo electric device to raise and/orlower temperature.

Block 1520 further includes optional block 15208 which provides forenabling the one or more staining procedures via accessing a datastructure associated with the auto-staining instrument, the datastructure including the one or more staining procedures. In oneembodiment, the enabling the one or more staining procedures viaaccessing a data structure associated with the auto-staining instrument,includes accessing the data structure including accessing a database.

Block 1530 provides for receiving first identification data from asample contained in one of the one or more self-contained sampleprocessing receptacles. For example, each sample can be a biologicalsample on a slide or other physical medium. Each slide or other physicalmedium can have an identification thereon. Referring back to FIGS. 11and 12, as shown, sample 370 can include one or more of a biologicalsample from any species wherein the sample can include one or more oftissue, cells, a cell suspension, a block of tissues, an embedded cellsuspension, a cell pellet, and/or a smear of body fluid, among others.

Block 1540 provides for receiving staining procedure data from theself-contained sample processing receptacle. For example, eachself-contained processing receptacle 105 can include a computer-readableidentification, such as an RFID tag or the like that can communicate thetype of procedure that can be performed by the self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle 105. For example, self-contained sample processingreceptacle 110A can include a computer-readable identification (ID) 365.ID 365 can be disposed on and/or within self-contained sample processingreceptacle 110A. In some embodiments, ID 365 can include one or more ofa computer-readable color, hologram, bar code or the like.

Block 1550 provides for comparing the first identification data from thesample and the staining procedure data from the self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle to confirm that the choice of self-containedsample processing receptacle is valid. The comparison can operate as acheck for user 150 prior to running any procedure. More specifically,after a user 150 inserts a sample into a self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle, and the sample and self-contained sampleprocessing receptacle are inserted into auto-staining instrument, theauto-staining system can address a database holding data concerning eachprocedure with a list of appropriate samples. For example, FIG. 7illustrates memory mediums 177A-177C, and FIG. 9 illustrates database240.

Depicted within block 1550 is optional block 15502, which provides forreceiving the first identification data via one or more of acomputer-readable color, hologram, bar code (e.g., a one or moredimensional bar code) and/or a radio frequency identification (RFID)tag, such as ID 365.

Referring now to FIG. 16, another flow diagram illustrates a method inaccordance with an embodiment. Block 1610 provides for receiving firstidentification information. In one example, auto-staining instrument100A can receive the first identification information via auto-stainingmodule 105B. In another example, one or more of PCD 230A, DTCD 230B, SCD230C, and/or database 240 can receive the first identificationinformation. In various embodiments, identification information (e.g.,first identification information, second identification information,third identification information, etc.) can be received from one or moreof a computer-readable color, hologram, bar code and/or a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag, among others, included on and/orwithin a first self-contained sample processing receptacle (e.g.,self-contained sample processing receptacle 110A). Next, block 1620provides for determining a first sample auto-staining based on the firstidentification information. In various embodiments, one or more sampleauto-staining procedures can be determined based on the firstidentification information. For example, Table 1, below, shows variouspossible identifications associated with various possible auto-stainingprocedures.

Next, at 1630, a first sample staining procedure may be determined basedon the first identification information. In various embodiments, one ormore sample staining procedures may be determined based on the firstidentification information. For example, Table 1 shows various possibleidentifications associated with various possible staining procedures.

TABLE 1 Identification A Staining Procedure B, Staining Procedure DIdentification B Staining Procedure A Identification C StainingProcedure D, Staining Procedure B Identification D Staining Procedure C,Staining Procedure A, Staining Procedure E Identification E StainingProcedure B Identification F Staining Procedure A

In various embodiments, information associated with Table 1 may bestored in a data structure that may be stored in a memory medium thatmay be accessed by one or more of instrument units 100A-100C, PCD 230A,DTCD 230B, SCD 230C, and/or database 240 to determine a stainingprocedure (e.g., the first staining procedure, etc.). For example,referring to FIG. 7, the data structure may be stored in one or more ofmemory mediums 177A-177C. In another example, the data structure may bestored in a memory medium included in one or more of PCD 230A, DTCD230B, SCD 230C, and/or database 240 as shown in FIG. 9. In someembodiments, the portions of the data structure may be distributed amongtwo or more of memory mediums 177A-177C and memory mediums of DTCD 230B,SCD 230C, and/or database 240. In some embodiments, the data structuremay be indexed based on information associated with the firstidentification information.

Next, at block 1630, the first staining procedure can be performed.

Turning now to FIG. 17, a flow diagram is depicted, according to variousembodiments. At 1710, second identification information may be received.For example, the second identification information may be received froma second self-contained sample processing receptacle (e.g., 110B). Invarious embodiments, the second identification information may bedifferent from the first identification information or the secondidentification information may be the same as the first identificationinformation. In one example, instrument unit 100A (FIG. 2) may receivethe second identification information via staining module 105C. In asecond example, instrument unit 100B may receive the secondidentification information via staining module 105K. In another example,one or more of PCD 230A, DTCD 230B, SCD 230C, and/or database 240 (FIG.9) may receive the second identification information.

Next, at 1720, a second sample staining procedure may be determinedbased on the second identification information. In various embodiments,two or more sample staining procedures may be determined based on thesecond identification information. In some embodiments, various methods,data structures, memory mediums, and/or systems associated with block1620 may be used to realize and/or implement block 1720 by using thesecond identification information in place of the first identificationinformation.

In some embodiments, blocks 1620 and 1720 may determine the samestaining procedure even when the first identification information andthe second identification information differ. For example, referring toTable 1, the first identification information may be associated with“Identification F” and the second identification information may beassociated with “Identification B”, and each of “Identification F” and“Identification B” is associated with “Staining Procedure A”. This mayallow various systems and/or methods described herein to beconfigurable. For instance, “Identification F” may have been previouslyassociated with “Staining Procedure C”, and various systems and/ormethods described herein have been configured to associate“Identification F” with “Staining Procedure A”. This may be moredesirable than configuring or re-configuring identifications on variousself-contained sample processing receptacles. For example, one or moreof the identifications of respective self-contained sample processingreceptacles 110A-110F may be read-only, and it may not be possible tochange their identification information. In another example, one or moreof the identifications of respective self-contained sample processingreceptacles 110A-110F may include read-write capabilities, and it may betime-consuming to re-configure a number of self-contained sampleprocessing receptacles.

Next, at 1730, the second staining procedure may be performed.

In various embodiments, staining instruments 100A-100C, PCD 230A, DTCD230B, SCD 230C, and/or database 240 may execute instructions thatimplement various methods and/or portions of various methods describedherein in a concurrent fashion. In one example, time slicing may be usedto provide an apparent simultaneous performance of two or more tasks bya computer system. In another example, two or more tasks may beperformed in parallel by one or more computer systems. In someembodiments, concurrent processing may include executing two or moretasks in parallel and/or in an apparent simultaneous performance of twoor more tasks by computer system. For example, a scheduler may beimplemented that may allow multi-tasking and/or time slicing to occur.For instance, the scheduler may allow execution of processes in a roundrobin and/or priority fashion, among others. In some embodiments, two ormore virtual machines may be implemented that may allow multi-tasking tooccur.

In various embodiments, a computer system may include various componentsthat may implement concurrency. For example, one or more of instrumentunits 100A-100C, PCD 230A, DTCD 230B, SCD 230C, and/or database 240 mayinclude a direct memory access (DMA) controller. For instance, a DMAcontroller of instrument unit 100B may be used to transfer data betweeninstrument units 100A and 100C with minimal or no instruction executionby processor 175B of instrument unit 100B.

Referring now to FIG. 18, a flow diagram of a staining procedure isdepicted, according to various embodiments. In various embodiments, userinput may be used in determining one or more staining procedures to beperformed. At 1810, various options can be communicated to a user (e.g.,operator 150). In various embodiments, a user interface may be used tocommunicate information to a user and/receive information from the user.In some embodiments, the user interface may include a display unit thatmay be used to display options to the user. For example, the displayunit can include one or more of a screen, a liquid crystal display(LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, and/or any deviceoperable to convey information to the user. For instance, one or more ofPCD 230A, DTCD 230B, and/or SCD 230C may display the options to theuser.

Next, at 1050, user input information may be received, where the userinput information is associated with one or more sample stainingprocedures. In various embodiments, one or more of staining modules105A-105T, instrument units 100A-100C, PCD 230A, DTCD 230B, and/or SCD230C may receive the user input information via a user interface. Forexample, the user interface may include one or more of buttons, keys ofa keyboard, a mouse, a graphical user interface (GUI), a voiceinterface, a gesture interface, a smart-card interface, a touch screen,a joy stick, and/or anything that would allow a human to interface witha computer system.

For example, the user may select one or more staining proceduresassociated with an identification shown in Table 1. In some embodiments,the user may select one or more staining procedures which may not beavailable in Table 1. In one example, the user may select “StainingProcedure E”, “Staining Procedure A”, “Staining Procedure C” which is areverse order of staining procedures associated with identificationinformation “Identification D”. In another example, the user may select“Staining Procedure D” and “Staining Procedure C”. In variousembodiments, the user input may override identification informationreceived from a computer-readable color, hologram, bar code and/or aradio frequency identification (RFID) tag, among others, included onand/or within a cartridge (e.g., self-contained sample processingreceptacle 110A).

Next, at 1060, a first sample staining procedure may be determined basedon the user input information, and, at 1840, the first sample stainingprocedure may be performed.

Referring now to FIG. 19, a flow diagram depicts a staining procedure,according to various embodiments. At 1900, one or more amounts ofrespective one or more reservoirs 130A-130I may be determined. Forinstance, various capacities of reservoirs may be required for thestaining procedure. For example, the staining procedure may need a firstamount from reservoir 130A and a second amount from reservoir 130C. Thefirst and second amounts may be the same or different. The stainingprocedure may need a capacity available in a reservoir, e.g., in one ormore of waste reservoirs 130G-130I. In some embodiments, instrument unit100A may not be coupled a waste reservoir configured to receive a typeof waste generated by the staining procedure, even though variousrequired reagents are available. Thus, it may not have a capacity forthat type of waste.

If capacity is not available, an alert may be sent at 1905. For example,instrument unit 100A may indicate visual and/or audio information aboutthe determination from 1900. In another example, a message, that mayinclude information associated with the determination at 1900, may betransmitted to a computer system, pager, mobile telephone, etc.

If capacity is available, the staining procedure may proceed to 1910,where a first fluid may be selected through fluidic selection device210. For example, fluidic selection device 210 may receive selectioninformation, and fluidic selection device 210 may select a fluid basedon the selection information. Next, at 1920, the first fluid (e.g., fromreservoir 130C) can be controlled into a chamber 300 via fluidic valve310A and channel 330A. Next, at 1930, a temperature of a slide in thechamber may be controlled. In various embodiments, the temperaturecontrol may lower or raise temperature. Moreover, the temperaturecontrol may adjust temperature to and maintained at a level for a periodof time. In some embodiments, the temperature control may includeadjusting temperature to one level for a period of time and thenadjusting temperature to another level for another period of time. Forexample, the slide may be heated and/or cooled.

Next, a second fluid may be selected at 1940. Similar to what isdescribed above, fluidic selection device 210 may select and deliverfluid from reservoir 130A to staining instrument 100A. At 1950, thefirst fluid may be evacuated from chamber 300, and at 1960, the secondfluid may be pumped into chamber 300 via fluidic valve 310B and channel330B. In some embodiments, the first fluid may be evacuated from chamber300 while the second fluid is being pumped into chamber 300. In variousembodiments, evacuating a fluid from chamber 300 may occur throughgravity, a vacuum pumping action, and/or by the introduction of pressurefrom an incoming fluid.

Next, at 1970, a temperature of a slide in the chamber may becontrolled. At 1980, the second fluid may be evacuated from chamber 300,and at 1990 water may be pumped into chamber 300. In some embodiments,the second fluid may be evacuated from chamber 300 while the water isbeing pumped into chamber 300. In some embodiments, flushing the chambermay include pumping in water, air, a neutralizing agent, and/or asterilizing agent. Next, at 1992, the water may be evacuated fromchamber 300, and, at 1994 the second fluid may be pumped into chamber300 via fluidic valve 310A and channel 330C which may include a reagentbead 340C. In various embodiments, the second fluid flowing throughchannel 330C may cause one or more portions of reagent bead 340C todissolve. In some embodiments, the water may be evacuated from chamber300 while the second fluid is being pumped into chamber 300.

Next, at 1996, contents of chamber 300 may be agitated and/or mixed. Asdescribed above, the cartridge may include an elastomer element and amagnetic material. In some embodiments, the magnetic material mayinclude a magnet. In various embodiments, a staining module may apply amagnetic field that varies at one or more frequencies. The magneticfield may cause forces to be applied to the magnetic material and, thus,to the elastomer element which causes the contents of the chamber to beagitated and/or mixed. In some embodiments, agitating and/or mixing thecontents of chamber 300 may cause one or more portions of reagent bead340C to dissolve and/or mixed with the contents of chamber 300.

At 1998, the chamber may be evacuated. In various embodiments, air maybe allowed to enter the chamber so a vacuum may not be created. In someembodiments, one or more portions of the contents of chamber 300 may beevacuated through fluidic valve 310D.

It is noted that in various embodiments of one or more of the methodelements may be performed concurrently, performed rapidly enough to beviewed as concurrent to a user, in a different order, or be omitted.Additional elements may be performed as desired.

While the subject matter of the application has been shown and describedwith reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the subject matter of the application, including but notlimited to additional, less or modified elements and/or additional, lessor modified steps performed in the same or a different order.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the arthas progressed to the point where there is little distinction leftbetween hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; theuse of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that incertain contexts the choice between hardware and software can becomesignificant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs.Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are variousvehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologiesdescribed herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/orfirmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context inwhich the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies aredeployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed andaccuracy are paramount, the implementer can opt for a mainly hardwareand/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, theimplementer can opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet againalternatively, the implementer can opt for some combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles bywhich the processes and/or devices and/or other technologies describedherein can be effected, none of which is inherently superior to theother in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon thecontext in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns(e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any ofwhich can vary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that opticalaspects of implementations will typically employ optically-orientedhardware, software, and or firmware.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment,several portions of the subject matter described herein can beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearingmedia used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signalbearing media include, but are not limited to, the following: recordabletype media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digitaltape, and computer memory; and transmission type media such as digitaland/or analog communication links using TDM (time division multiplexing)or IP (Internet protocol) based communication links (e.g., packetlinks).

The herein described aspects depict different components containedwithin, or connected with, different other components. It is to beunderstood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, andthat in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achievethe same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement ofcomponents to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated”such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any twocomponents herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can beseen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionalityis achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components.Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being“operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achievethe desired functionality, and any two components capable of being soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable”, to eachother to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples ofoperably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateableand/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactableand/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically interactingand/or logically interactable components.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationscan be made without departing from the subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of this subject matter describedherein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention isdefined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those withinthe art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in theappended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generallyintended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should beinterpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” shouldbe interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should beinterpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will befurther understood by those within the art that if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will beexplicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitationno such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, thefollowing appended claims can contain usage of the introductory phrases“at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations.However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply thatthe introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or“an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claimrecitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even whenthe same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “atleast one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or“an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one ormore”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used tointroduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled inthe art will recognize that such recitation should typically beinterpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the barerecitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typicallymeans at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C”would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone,C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A,B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general sucha construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).

We claim:
 1. A method for staining of one or more samples, the methodcomprising: sheathing each of the one or more samples within one or moresample processing receptacles, each of the one or more sample processingreceptacles including at least one pre-loaded reagent; enclosing each ofthe one or more sample processing receptacles within an auto staininginstrument; choosing one of one or more staining procedures appropriatefor the one or more samples based on an identification of the at leastone pre-loaded reagent within each sample processing receptacle suchthat the choosing the one of one or more staining procedures is afunction of a choice of sample processing receptacle, each of the one ormore sample processing receptacles configured to process each of the oneor more samples using the at least one pre-loaded reagent within thesample processing receptacle; and wherein the enclosing each of the oneor more sample processing receptacles within the auto-staininginstrument includes placing each of the one or more sample processingreceptacles near a magnetic field generator within the auto-staininginstrument, the auto-staining instrument adapted to receive and encloseat least one of the one or more sample processing receptacles, each ofthe one or more sample processing receptacles including one or moresamples, the one or more sample processing receptacles each including aflexible membrane responsive to the magnetic field generator to agitatecontents within the one or more sample processing receptacles.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising: receiving first identificationdata from a sample contained in the one of the one or more sampleprocessing receptacles; receiving staining procedure data from thesample processing receptacle; and comparing the first identificationdata from the sample and the staining procedure data from the sampleprocessing receptacle to confirm that the choice of sample processingreceptacle is valid.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the receivingfirst identification data from a sample contained in one of the one ormore sample processing receptacles includes receiving identificationdata from the sample, the sample including one or more of a slide and/ora physical medium configured to hold blood, tissue, and/or biologicalmatter.
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein the receiving firstidentification data form a sample contained in the one of the one ormore sample processing receptacles includes receiving the firstidentification data via one or more of a computer-readable color, ahologram, a bar code and/or a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.5. The method of claim 4 wherein the receiving the first identificationdata via one or more of a computer-readable color, a hologram, a barcode and/or a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag includes:receiving the first identification data via reading a multi-dimensionalbar code.
 6. The method of claim 2 wherein the receiving stainingprocedure data from the sample processing receptacle includes receivingthe staining procedure data via one or more of a computer-readablecolor, a hologram, a bar code and/or a radio frequency identification(RFID) tag.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the receiving the stainingprocedure data via one or more of a computer-readable color, hologram,bar code and/or a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag includes:receiving the first staining procedure data via reading amulti-dimensional bar code.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein theenclosing of each of the one or more sample processing receptacleswithin an auto-staining instrument includes: receiving the one or moresample processing receptacles into one or more modules within theauto-staining instrument, each module operable to receive one of the oneor more sample processing receptacles and independently coupling eachsample processing receptacle to the auto-staining instrument.
 9. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the placing each of the one or more sampleprocessing receptacles near a magnetic field generator includes:coupling one or more fluidic valves, the one or more fluidic valvesenabling a pump to control flow of one or more fluids into at least oneof the one or more sample processing receptacles with the at least onepre-loaded reagent and the one or more samples.
 10. The method of claim9 wherein the coupling one or more fluidic valves includes: coupling theone or more fluidic valves to one or more channels disposed between atleast one fluidic valve of the one or more fluidic valves and the one ormore sample processing receptacles.
 11. The method of claim 9 whereinthe coupling one or more fluidic valves further comprises: dissolvingand/or mixing the pre-loaded reagent disposed within the sampleprocessing receptacle via one or more of agitating and/or pumping. 12.The method of claim 9 wherein the coupling the one or more fluidicvalves includes: pumping a fluid through at least one of the one or morefluidic valves coupled to a magnetic element within the one or moresample processing receptacles, the magnetic element responsive to themagnetic field generator of the auto-staining instrument, the magneticelement actuating the at least one of the one or more fluidic valves,the at least one of the one or more fluidic valves contained within theone or more sample processing receptacles.
 13. The method of claim 9wherein the coupling the chamber to one or more fluidic valves furtherincludes: evacuating at least a portion of contents of the one or moresample processing receptacles.
 14. The method of claim 9 wherein thecoupling one or more fluidic valves includes: coupling the one or moresample processing receptacles to the one or more fluidic valves, whereinthe fluidic valves are configured as one or more peristaltic pumpsand/or operable with one or more pumps associated with the auto-staininginstrument, each of the one or more fluidic valves configured to openone or more channels within the one or more samples processingreceptacles.
 15. A method for staining one or more samples, the methodcomprising: sheathing each of the one or more samples within one or moresample processing receptacles, each of the one or more sample processingreceptacles including at least one pre-loaded reagent: enclosing each ofthe one or more sample processing receptacles within an auto staininginstrument; choosing one of one more staining procedures appropriate forthe one or more samples based on an identification of the at least onepre-loaded reagent within each sample processing receptacle such thatthe choosing the one of one or more staining procedures is a function ofa choice of sample processing receptacle, each of the one or more sampleprocessing receptacles configured to process each of the one or moresamples using the at least one pre-loaded reagent within the sampleprocessing receptacle; and wherein the enclosing each of the one or moresample processing receptacles within the auto-staining instrumentincludes placing each of the one or more sample processing receptaclessuch that a magnetic element is coupled to a flexible membrane, both themagnetic element and the flexible membrane being disposed within the oneor more sample processing receptacles such that the flexible membraneresponds to a magnetic field generator disposed within one or more ofthe auto-staining instrument and a module disposed within theauto-staining instrument, the magnetic element adapted to causeagitation of the contents within the sample processing receptacle usingthe flexible membrane when the magnetic field generator is activated,the magnetic field generator adapted to produce one or more magneticfields that apply force to the magnetic element, whereby the flexiblemembrane responds.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the placing eachof the one or more sample processing receptacles such that a magneticelement coupled to a flexible membrane responds to the magnetic fieldgenerator disposed within the one or more of the auto-staininginstrument and the module disposed within the auto-staining instrumentincludes: varying a frequency of one or more magnetic fields via themagnetic field generator and the magnetic element.
 17. The method ofclaim 15 wherein the placing each of the one or more sample processingreceptacles such that a magnetic element coupled to a flexible membrane,both the magnetic element and the flexible membrane being disposedwithin the one or more sample processing receptacles, such that theflexible membrane responds to a magnetic field generator disposed withinone or more of the auto-staining instrument and a module disposed withinthe auto-staining instrument, the magnetic element adapted to causeagitation of the contents within the sample processing receptacle usingthe flexible membrane when the magnetic field generator is activated,the magnetic field generator adapted to produce one or more magneticfields that apply force to the magnetic element, whereby the flexiblemembrane responds includes: providing the flexible membrane as anelastomer diaphragm.
 18. The method of claim 15 furthering comprising:flushing at least one of the one or more sample processing receptacles.19. The method of claim 18, wherein said flushing includes using atleast one of water, a neutralizing agent, or a sterilizing agent. 20.The method of claim 15 further comprising: hermetically sealing at leastone of the one or more sample processing receptacles.
 21. The method ofclaim 15 wherein the choosing one of one or more staining proceduresappropriate for the one or more samples based on an identification ofthe at least one pre-loaded reagent within each sample processingreceptacle such that the choosing the one or more staining procedures isa function of a choice of sample processing receptacle, each of the oneor more sample processing receptacles configured to process each of theone or more samples using the at least one pre-loaded reagent within thesample processing receptacle includes: choosing a first stainingprocedure of the one or more staining procedures appropriate for a firstof the one or more samples; and choosing a second staining procedure ofthe one or more staining procedures appropriate for a second of the oneor more samples.
 22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:performing the first staining procedure and at least a portion of thesecond staining procedure of the one or more staining proceduresconcurrently.
 23. The method of claim 15 wherein the choosing one of oneor more staining procedures appropriate for the one or more samplesbased on an identification of the at least one pre-loaded reagent withineach sample processing receptacle such that the choosing the one or morestaining procedures is a function of a choice of sample processingreceptacle, each of the one or more sample processing receptaclesconfigured to process each of the one or more samples using the at leastone pre-loaded reagent within the sample processing receptacle includes:performing the one or more staining procedures such that the one or morestaining procedures include heating and/or cooling the one or moresamples in the one or more sample processing receptacles.
 24. The methodof claim 15 wherein the choosing one of one or more staining proceduresappropriate for the one or more samples based on an identification ofthe at least one pre-loaded reagent within each sample processingreceptacle such that the choosing the one or more staining procedures isa function of a choice of sample processing receptacle, each of the oneor more sample processing receptacles configured to process each of theone or more samples using the at least one pre-loaded reagent within thesample processing receptacle includes: accessing a data structureassociated with the auto-staining instrument, the data structureincluding the one or more staining procedures.
 25. The method of claim24 wherein the accessing a data structure associated with theauto-staining instrument includes: accessing a database holding the datastructure.
 26. The method of claim 15 further comprising: providing aprocessor: providing a memory coupled to the processor, the memoryconfigured to include a plurality of one or more sample processingprocedures; and providing a sample processing component operably coupledto the processor, the sample processing component configured to receivedata from the inserted sample processing receptacle via a computerreadable identification.